美洲鲽抗冻蛋白基因的克隆及在E.coli中的表达

本文报告了美洲鲽抗冻蛋白基因的克隆及在E.coli中表达的研究,以质粒P~(CT5)作为抗冻蛋白基因的供体,p~(ORF-2)作为表达载体。用HpaⅡ酶从质粒p~(CT5)上切下抗冻蛋白基因片段,再经Bal 31酶,绿豆核酸酶处理,连接上BglⅡ接头,然后插入到p~(ORF-2)的BglⅡ位点上,借助于p~(ORF-2)上的β-半乳糖苷酶基因的活性,使含正确插入抗冻蛋白基因的克隆呈现出蓝色菌落,共获得4000多个转化子,其中有201个蓝色克隆。对于50个蓝色克隆提取质粒DNA,电泳后发现均大于p~(ORF-2)。用BglⅡ消化后,可以发现有300—1500bpDNA片段,同时确定了抗冻蛋白基因在p~(ORF-2)中的插入方向,对于正确插入的克隆作出部分限制性内切酶图谱,测定出插入的抗冻蛋白基因片段的DNA序列,然后将重组质粒从E.coli MH1000菌株转化到E.coliTK1046中,研究分析表达产物,SDS—聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳结果证明插入的抗冻蛋白的基因已表达,有明显的融合蛋白带,分子量大于β-半乳糖苷酶、是由大肠杆菌的外膜蛋白F,抗冻蛋白和β-半乳糖苷酶组成。融合蛋白含量占总蛋白的20％左右。     

Inhibition of Sucrose Enhancer Effect of the Potato Proteinase Inhibitor II Promoter by Salicylic Acid

Effect of salicylic acid (SA) on the expression of the potato proteinase inhibitor (PI) II promoter was studied with transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) carrying a gene fusion between the PI-II promoter and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) reporter. As previously observed, the PI-II promoter was inducible by wounding and the promoter activity was further enhanced by sucrose. Addition of SA did not influence the wound induction of the PI-II promoter but significantly inhibited the sucrose response. The 5′-deletion mutant −573 was unable to respond to wounding but did respond to sucrose and SA. The 3′-deletion analysis indicated the presence of a sucrose-responsive element between −574 and −520. A study of the insertion mutants revealed the function of another sucrose-responsive element between −522 and −500. Enhancer effects of these sucrose-responsive elements were inhibited by SA. These studies suggest that SA inhibits PI-II promoter activity by decreasing the sucrose response. Analysis of SA-related chemicals revealed that only acetyl-SA showed a similar inhibitory effect, and other hydroxybenzoic acids had little or no effect on the sucrose enhancer activity. Therefore, it seems that the interaction between SA and the receptor molecule is specific.     

Diversity and origins of endophytic fungal symbionts of the North American grass Festuca arizonica

Summary Acremonium spp. endophytes are mutualistic fungal symbionts of many C3 grasses. They are anamorphs of Epichloë typhina (Clavicipitaceae) that have become strictly seedborne, heritable components of symbiotic units (symbiota). In order to test the possibility that endophytes may contribute to the genetic diversity of symbiota, a survey was conducted of plants from nine populations of Festuca arizonica in the southern Rocky Mountains. Sequence analysis of rRNA gene segments distinguished three Acremonium endophyte types. Parsimony analysis indicated at least two distinct evolutionary origins of the Acremonium endophytes from E. typhina. Either or both of these evolutionary lineages may have involved cospeciation with the host.     

The stability of foreign protein production in genetically modified plant cells

Summary The stability of foreign protein production in genetically engineered plant cells was studied. A cultured tobacco cell line was transformed with a chimeric molecule carrying a bacterial gene, ß-glucuronidase (GUS), under plant regulatory sequences. The specific GUS activity was monitored for 294 days with ten independently transformed cell lines either in the presence or the absence of selectable antibiotics. Specific GUS activity was stably maintained in five lines. About a two-to four-fold increase in the GUS activity was observed from three cell lines. The remaining two cell lines lost the activity within the first 70 to 210 days. The presence of antibiotics did not significantly alter the stability of the foreign protein production in all cell lines examined.     

Cultivation of plant cells in a stirred vessel: effect of impeller design

Suspension cultures of Nicotiana tabacum were grown in a batch fermentor using different agitation systems. The effects of the impeller type, size, and agitation speed on the productivity of cell mass and secondary metabolites (phenolics) have been investigated. The use of a large, flat-bladed impeller (diameter 7.6 cm; width 14.0 cm) improved culture growth significantly over systems using a regular, flat-bladed impeller (diameter 5.6 cm; width 1.5 cm). An impeller of the same dimensions as the 14.0-cm-wide, large, flat-bladed impeller with sail cloth blades yielded a higher maximum growth rate in the exponential phase but resulted in a longer lag phase. Overall (intracellular and extracellular) phenolics concentration showed a direct relationship to culture growth rate whereas extracellular concentrations were a function of agitation conditions. Power consumption and flow pattern studies were also completed to further characterize the different impellers tested.     

Expression of bacterial beta-galactosidase in animal cells

A recombinant plasmid containing the gene for bacterial β-galactosidase, situated close to the simian virus 40 early promoter, has been constructed. Transfection of CHO, L, and COS-1 cells with this plasmid led to the expression and appearance of the enzyme. Using this system, we have developed a series of promoter cloning vehicles capable of accepting promoter signals for animal genes.     

Galium procurrens,a new diploid relic species of theG. sylvaticum-group from the Balkan Peninsula

Galium procurrens is described as a new diploid relic species from Montenegro/N. Albania and SW. Bulgaria. It is related to the tetraploidG. laevigatum and other diploid and polyploid taxa of theG. sylvaticum-group inhabiting European deciduous forests.